T/S BRITTA Sail Training Project

WHY DID TS BRITTA SAIL TRAINING PROJECT FAIL?

I bought ‘Britta’ not because I loved ships and the sea but because of the amazing potential to transform lives!

1. I asked the Swedish boatyard to fix everything below the waterline. There was no limit on time and no limit on money. However they totally failed to carry out my request.

2. I could not travel to Sweden to monitor the work due to Covid limitations.

3. I knew I could not succeed without full-time shore support so contracted Silvery Light Sailing to provide this before purchasing in January 2020. Unfortunately in September they did not agree to my having made ‘Britta’ my home and gave up.

4. By the time the failure of the Swedish yard was fully realised, ‘Britta’ was too dismantled to be moved safely to a place where she could be slipped for remedial work below the waterline. Despite this Dickies Marine Services who managed Port Penrhyn in North Wales and who were extremely discriminatory from the outset and most unhelpful throughout the years ‘Britta’ was there insisted she be removed. It was when she was moved to an unsafe position on the outside quay for preparation that she fell over at low water.

'Helene' is on AIS: MMSI: 265521700

I have just moved to a much better and more convenient location in Bangor, Wales.

Many kind people have helped me in so many ways which I found very honouring.

A song or poem of Brittas journey alas. I didn't think skipper would sail her till he was 70.. and now it's salvage. Oh well 18 months no pay, nothing to show but 20 films and reunited with my son for a while and to help someone's vision...

Brittas Empire..

Were Upon the Britta empire
She sometimes rules the waves
When you come aboard there's a cuppa and a visit to bygone days

So Tarnished, now to varnish
threadbare Tar is everywhere
The bearings are strait
It Started to grate
So hugging the mast to hear.

The leaking now has stopped
It's now found in the soup
The food is of the finest fayre
Like the September wind and air

Greased up gunning monkeys
Working the bilge pump,
The water captured from the deck seeps into every bunk

Dolphins they will join her
Aodh hanging from the sprite.
to greet them as they flop and drop
beneathe the bow outta sight

The sheet snapped
The jager flapped
In the middle of the night
All on deck
what the heck
Everything was so tight.

Moonlighting box of Chocolate,
in an ecological way
Sails go up but can't quite seem to leave the motor for a day.

From Sweden's uddavalla waters
Where she was nearly laid to rest
Than a skipper down from Solent way
Rescued her from the grave.

She has a charming nature
With full sails she is a beauty
The crew that came aboard her
Found it became there cup of tea and duty

The moon and stars
Shine on the sails and spars,
The lighthouse and bouys are sparkling,
The waypoints mark our progress,
Round lands end up to Ireland

To Carlingford via Dublin
To drop the cargo there
From sail to sail and rowing boat to horse and cart with care.

Off to Wales next morning
to lift out for repair
To renew the decks and everything else
Hope to see you there.

Were Upon the Britta empire,
She sometimes rules the waves
When you come aboard there's a cuppa and Traditional sailing ways...

Simon kindly removing the manganese bronze propeller for scrap!

There are places in the world where conflict has been engrained for a long time - even centuries. Two opposing parties cannot accept the other as at all reasonable or even human.

Yet when I have them aboard a sail-training vessel working together, they are shocked to find the others have human attributes such as hopes, fears and feelings just like them.

I do not tell them in advance who will be coming. But they end up the best of friends like all crew members. [But then they have the battle of convincing their friends and family back home or risk rejection!].

Should we have more sail-training vessels to promote friendship and acceptance?

FOR SALE from Britta (34 berths)

2 liferafts – 20 man and 25 man
New Morse engine control and new cables
Steering – very heavy duty hydraulic - fully overhauled + steering binnacle
Hydraulic windlass – also 2 x 100m off 14mm chain
230v water pressure set
Man overboard safety system in fixed rigid container including throw line, float & recovery net
4 Hardwood saloon tables
400v heavy duty 3-phase shore-power cable - 200m
30 boat mattresses and 2 sets of fitted covers
Climbing harnesses + arresters
Davit with manual winch for anchor handling
Freezer - 230v
Wooden hoops for sails - cost £85 each in 2020
Lifejackets – inflatable + 43 SOLAS
Manual cast deck bilge pump with long handle – completely rebuilt
Navigation lights suitable for vessel over 50m – stern and various masthead lights
Compass – for steering in brass binnacle
Spare lamps and relays - including 3 phase
Plus other items stored ashore North Wales

All must go now – no reasonable offer refused
[email protected]

There have been many traditional rig sail-training ships lost in recent years and it might be good to analyse why.

In my own ship’s case it began with COVID. I wasn't able to go and supervise the work at a shipyard in Sweden. If I had, I would have been able to see the rot when planks had been removed for replacement. Fibre-optic cameras available today might well have helped. I had them on board a boat I was on in 2019. Otherwise there was no way to see between the outer planks and the inner ceiling-boards that concealed all. Then I would certainly have taken the ship out of the water.

The other way is being aware of and monitoring bilge water. If freshwater is leaking in, something is obviously amiss. If bilge pumps are operating frequently that is not good!

But generally with any wooden ship frequent and careful checks should be made for leaks at least once a year. If this is ignored for many years then the rot will accelerate spreading to the point where it's uneconomic to repair. Some vessels have had leaks for decades before it has been noticed and then it really is too late!

When we took the boat from Sweden to Penhryn

TS Britta, Gosport to Penrhyn Refit One man's quest to revive a tall ship to bring sail training to young people Chris Wren owner and Skipper, buys TS Britta and takes her from Sweden to Wales ...